Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



BERGEN Si WILLIAMSON. Breech-.loadng Fire-erm. No. 45,202. Patented Nov.22, 1864.

N'PETERS. PHOTO LTHOGRAPH WASHINGTON D C WTNEssEs,

breech-block. E to a peculiarly-constructed hammer-tumbler,

UNITED STATES` PATENT. OFFICE..

ALEXR. J. BERGEN AND DAVID VILLIAMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORSTO THE MOORES PATENT FIRE-ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT iN BREECH-LOAYDING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. lf?, dated November 22,1864. I

-housing for the hammer-tumbler open to show the interior parts. Fig. 2is a sectional plan at the line x Fig. l. Fig. 3 isV a section of thepin that is struck by the hammer to explode the cartridge. Fig. 4 is across-section of the breech-housing, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the innerside of the lever-guard at the moving end.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

The present invention is an improvement upon that for which LettersPatent were granted to Daniel Moore December 3, 1861; and oursaidinvention consists in a means for retracting the metalliccartridge-case, and by the same device sustaining and guiding the Vealso employ a stop applied to limit the descent as well as the ascent ofthe hammer, so that the spring cannot be injured by cooking too far, northe gun injured by the descent of the hammer when the breech is open;and we allowT both the tumbler and stop to be introduced and correctlyplaced through an opening at the side of the stock,

that is provided with a movable plug or block.

In the drawing, a is the barrel; b,:itl1e metallic casting or forgingforming the housing of the breech-blocks, and made with the straps l lto connect the same with the stock c.

d is the forward breechblock,moving in line with the barrel,and e ,isthe rear breech-block, moving up behind the same to sustain theexplosion, or drawn down to allowl the blocks d to be drawn back to openthe breech. These blocks are acted upon by the lever-guard f upon thefulcrum-pin 2 in the same manner as set forth in the aforesaid patent,and therefore do not require any further description.'

The housing b, as before mentioned, is made in one piece for obtainingthe requisite strength, and the mortise in said housing is made withgrooves 3 3 on the faces of such mortise, but otherwise may be finishedas a square smooth opening. In the lower front portion of the mortiseribs 4 4 are introduced, forming shoulders, and leaving -an opening onlywide enough freely t) pass the end of the lever j, that operates uponthe front sliding breech-block, d, and the edges of the shoulders 4 4are on line with the bore of the barrel, so as to receive the cartridgewhen dropped into the mortise and guide the same when pressed into thebarrel by the breech-block. The ribs forming these shoulders 4 4 may bemade as a fork from a plate secured at the front end of the mortise bythe screw l5, and at the rear ends the ribs 4 4 may be sustained bypieces extending down to the screw 2. This mode of fitting in the ribs 44 separately gives facility in finishing up the mortise; but the samemight be formed solid with the housing. If the breech-block d wereformed with solid projections taking the grooves 3 3, the same could notbe introduced in the solid housing. Ve therefore groove the sides of thebreech-block and introduce keys or slides 5 5,that are secured in placeafter being introduced while the block is in position by screws enteringthe breech-block, said screws being introduced through holes providedfor that purpose in the sides of the housing, as at 6 6. We constructthese keys or slides 5 5 in the manner represented in Fig. 2, so as toperform the double function of slides'for the breechblock and ofspring-catches 7 7 for the withdrawal of the metallic cartridgecase. Theends of these catches enter recesses at the rear end of the barrel whenthe breech-block is up to its place, and as said block is drawn backthey seize on the flange of the metallic case on' opposite sides andwithdraw the same from the barrel, and said case is then free to fallout by turning the gun over sidewise.

From the peculiar construction of the slides 5 5 the necessary length ofspring is obtained for the catches 7 7, and at the same time thestrength and efficiency of the slide is not impaired.

In the rear portion of the part b, between the straps l l, a cavity isformed for the hammer-tumbler; but in order to introduce such tumblerand aXis when formed in one piece, it is necessary to make an opening inthe side of b, opposite to the hammer, suflciently large for introducingsuch tumbler, and then a cap or block, g, is inserted, containing acavity for receiving the end of the tumbler-axis h, and this block g isto be retained in place by a screw inserted at any convenient place. Thesame is shown at 8. The tumbler t' receives a bridle to the mainspringk, as usual, and said mainspring is returned to form the triggerspring7c', and Z is the trigger, as usual. The hammer-axis 7L receives thehammer m by a square and binding screw, as usual. The hammer-tumbler t'has a notch, in which is introducedthe stud 9, that is screwed into theinterior `part of b, and is located so that the tumbler i lwill come incontact with said stud when the hammer has been full-cocked, therebyAp'reventing'further strain, and if the ha1nmer isdischarged when thebreech-block is slid back said stop prevents the end of the hammercoming down on the housing.

The pin `memployed for exploding-the cartridge by striking on the angeof the metallic case, is constructed, as seenin Fig. 3, with afcollar,10, against which the helical spring o acts -to-keep said pin projectedtoward the hammer, and a feather, 'as at 11, in a groove formed in theinside of the cavity containing the parts, serves to guide said pin and`retain it in position, so that its diagonal end shall strike 'properlyagainst the edge of the metallic fiange-case to explode the fulminate.A`

can then slide forward without touching the under side of thehammer-head, and if said hammer is first half-cocked by hand the thimblep does not come in contact with the hammer-head until the breech-blockis drawnback.

In order to hold the lever f to the stock when the parts are in positionfor ring, we provide a catch, q, on the lower strap 1, taking a slidinglatch, r, fitted into the moving end of the lever f, with a thumb ornger piece, o", within the bow of the lever forming the triggerguard.This sliding latch 1" is entered endwise into undercut or V grooves inthe surface of the lever f, so that it is free to slide, and a spring isintroduced in a recess formed in the lever under the slide, (see dottedlines,) that acts against the end of a screw, 14, 'that projects throughthe slide-latch e' into the recess taking said spring, and alsopreventing the slide-latch from slipping out of its place. By thisconstruction the lever can be instantly unlatched by applying the iingeror thumb to the part 1", and the lever cannot become unlatched by theordinary handling.

Vhat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The springcatches 7 77 in combination with the sliding breech-block dand grooved housing l), substantially as specifled, whereby the said`springs both guide the breech-block and draw out the cartridge-case, asset forth.

2. The shoulders 4 4 within the housing'b, extending ybelow the slidingbreech-block d, from the rear end of the barrel to the forward end ofthe verticallysliding block e, for the purposes and asset forth.

3. Forming the tumbler of the ham mer-with a notch taking against thestop-pin 9 at zthe eXtreme movement of the hammer in bothdirections, asset forth, in combination with the removable block g, wherebyopportunity is afforded for the introduction of both the tumbler andstop-pin, as set forth.

Dated July 19, 1864.

A. J. BERGEN. D. VILLIAMSON.

Vitnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, Trios. GEO. HAROLD.

